jazz education Continued from page 39
grant writing could easily be a full time job. The toughest part for me is finding the time to write an effective proposal.
Ray: I simply do not have time to seek for and complete grant applications.
Gina: We have not had any luck landing large grants either. We have received several smaller grants under $2,000 that help supplement some of the smaller items necessary to sustain the music program or chip away at larger expenses like our an- nual trip. I have a co-teacher and another fellow teacher in my building that help a lot with grant writing and finding grants that might meet our needs. It often feels defeating to write grants because it feels like it takes more time to write the pro- posal than what we receive in the end.
Fundraising
Doug: The MHSA jazz department has always been fortunate to use various performance opportunities for the major- ity of our fundraising. We have played innumerable community events over the years and – for the hours involved – they pay a great deal more than a candy bar or pizza sale. I have mixed feelings about my students performing as much as they do. On one hand it provides a great deal of practical experience, on the other hand, it can border on being exploitative.
Ray: I do not participate in fundraisers.
Gina: Fundraising is tough at NDHS and never ends! Our student population is on 100 percent free lunch and the school’s budget is quite tight, like so many other schools, so we have to fundraise for nearly everything we do. My co-teacher and I tend to stick to fundraisers that require little or no upfront cost for goods. We spend most Saturdays at Boston Store selling $5 Community Days coupon books with help from some of our students. We sometimes even earn a bonus check from Boston Store. We have also done staff lunches or dinners as well as selling candy and chips for school events. Our experiences at Boston Store have helped the students learn how communicate with strangers and work through adversity as not every customer we speak to is willing to help or even listen. We have some great staff members that help sponsor students for our big trip in the summer time.
Britney: Being a private-owned institu- tion, we host a myriad of fundraising events throughout the year with the intent of procuring resources for academic en- richment, scholarship funds and various endeavors. The music department serves as a primary focus in this effort. For ex- ample, our music curriculum is designed around five annual concerts, with three of them being visitation days for a des- ignated member of our students’ families at these events, family members may
observe their student’s schoolwork and daily environment, with a full thematic concert performance to start. Coming from a performance background myself, at times I find the idea of five annual shows to be excessive as the concerts normally include the full age range of students; who may not have the maturity level to handle performing that often. However, the level of enjoyment that is apparent from most of the students as well as their families has lead to much verbal and financial support for the school and our program.
Alumni
Doug: While MHSA alumni are support- ive, I do not think the majority of them have the means to donate a great deal mon- etarily. We are constantly trying to build an alumni database and bring our former students back to help give our students real world advice. There are former MHSA students performing and working in their respective areas all over the world. It is a blessing when they “give back.”
Ray: My alumni are very appreciative of the training and opportunities they received while at MHSA. They are sup- portive of current students and attend performances often. They have actively involved themselves in leadership roles in opportunities that they, themselves, took advantage of while here. They are giving back in the form of time and talent. Their financial resources, too, are limited.
Get Connected to Music Advocacy Resources!
Visit the Wisconsin Advocates for Music Education (WAME) website – your hub for resources dedicated to teachers, parents, administrators and community members. Here is just a sampling of what you’ll find:
• Featured Videos Supporting Music Education • Links to Key Sources All in One Place • Tools for Sending the Right Message and Speaking the Right Language • Legislative Interaction Guide
• Notable Quotes • Tips for Working With the Media • Research Supporting Music Education Plug in at
wame.wmea.com. Stay even more connected by “Liking” WAME on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/WAMEWI.
40 April 2018
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